Advanced Placement: State Support for Encouraging Access to AP

Advanced Placement (AP), first established in 1955 as a program for gifted students, has seen tremendous growth since the 1990s. This database provides information on state policies and programs to support AP offerings in the states.

State support for encouraging access to AP: Small, rural and low-income schools face particular challenges in offering AP courses. In addition, traditionally underserved students and children of parents who did not attend college may not be aware of the benefits of AP course- and exam-taking, or may not be exposed to courses in the middle and early high school grades that will ensure they are adequately prepared for challenging AP course content. Access policies are designed at bridging these gaps. This data set includes:

State-funded AP distance learning opportunities. Twenty-eight states offer state-supported virtual AP courses. However, it should be noted that some students do not do well without the structure afforded by a classroom environment. In addition, opportunities for AP course-taking in low-income schools will continue to be limited if states do not ensure adequate student access to technology.

Support for pre-AP curricula and teacher professional development. When students arrive at their junior or senior year of high school far behind in the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in AP courses, it’s often too late to catch up. Pre-AP courses and training align course expectations from grades six through 12 so that students are ready to succeed in AP courses in high school. ECS has identified six states-- Arkansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas -- that have policies or programs to either support or mandate pre-AP structures and teacher training.

Policies designed to identify and counsel students capable of succeeding in AP coursework. All six states receiving Phase II Honor State funds from the National Governors Association (NGA) to support AP programs -- Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada and Wisconsin -- are using the PSAT in the schools receiving Honor State funds to measure students' AP potential. In addition, Florida and Kentucky have explicit policies related to the identification and recruitment of students to AP courses.

Policies aimed at encouraging minority and low-income students to take AP courses and exams. Minnesota and Oregon have state policies targeted at increasing AP participation among traditionally underserved students. Again, Phase II Honor State grants from the National Governors Association (NGA) also contribute to state efforts in this area.

Policies or programs explicitly requiring or encouraging the state to consider geographic diversity in awarding AP funding. Indiana and Minnesota policies encourage even geographic distribution of AP supports.

Summer AP programs for high school students. Iowa offers a summer AP institute that allows students to take AP courses potentially unavailable in their local high schools.

This information was collected primarily from statutes and state board regulations from April to August 2006, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

This database was compiled by Jennifer Dounay, project manager, ECS High School Policy Center. For questions, additions or corrections: 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org.

State support for encouraging access to AP

Alabama

Yes. ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators & Students Statewide) is an initiative of the Alabama Department of Education, offering a number of AP courses via distance learning. As of fall 2006, any Alabama public high school student is eligible to request
free ACCESS distance learning courses.

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income and high minority schools. The NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses; AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors; preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor; and using the PSAT to measure AP potential. "The state has identified one urban district, one rural district, and six of their high schools to participate in this effort to expand AP participation. ... will choose an external evaluation firm to assess the progress of the pilot districts and schools and integrate AP expansion into the Alabama High School Redesign Strategic Plan."

Yes. Legislation establishes the state's intent to make distance learning available in every district, partly to provide districts with access to AP courses and other curricula not otherwise available. The Arkansas Virtual High School fulfills this intent, offering AP courses in English literature, U.S. history and world history, as of fall 2007.

In addition, all districts must offer pre-AP courses by the 2008-2009 school year. The Arkansas Department of Education must approve all pre-AP courses. State board regulations specify, "When a district offers a Pre-Advanced Placement program, the courses must follow a clearly recognizable sequence, i.e., 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th grade Pre-Advanced Placement English, 11th grade AP English Language and Composition, and 12th grade English Literature and Composition."

Pre-AP teachers must attend training sponsored or endorsed by the College Board, which may include vertical team training. The state makes available grants of up to $650 per pre-AP teacher to cover the costs of tuition, expenses and materials of approved training programs.

California

Yes. The first priority for use of Education Technology Grant Program funds is ensure that high school pupils in schools offering 3 or fewer AP courses have access to AP courses online. Grants awarded for the first priority may be expended to purchase or lease computers and related equipment and for wiring or infrastructure necessary to achieve connectivity to online AP courses in classroom, library, or technology and media centers. CTAP and the California Department of Education were mandated in October 2000 to provide the Secretary for Education with a report identifying high schools offering 3 or fewer AP courses, and in need of hardware, infrastructure or wiring to provide connectivity for on-line classes. CTAP was required to work with districts and eligible schools to determine whether individual school sites plan to provide AP courses via technology, and required to report on the hardware, infrastructure and wiring necessary to bring eligible schools online AP courses. Participating districts were to file an "End of Grant Expenditure Report/Certification of Completion" with CTAP no later than thirty days after completion of the installation, and not later than March 1, 2002.

In addition, the University of California College Prep Online offers numerous AP courses, as well as AP exam prep. AP courses are $325 per student per semester, although volume discounts for schools or programs are available. Students may pay for courses themselves or the school may cover the cost.

Colorado

Yes. Colorado Online Learning (COL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was initially launched as a 14-district consortium of rural, suburban and urban districts in Colorado. According to the COL Web site, "All of Colorado’s public school districts or private schools are entitled to enroll students. No membership fee is required." COL offers AP courses, and partners with Aventa Learning to provide additional AP coursework. Colorado students pay $300 per course per semester; out-of-state students pay an additional $50 per course per semester. According to the program Web site, "Most districts pay the course fee on behalf of students; however, some pass the full or partial fee on to students."

Connecticut

No

Delaware

The Department of Education Web site indicates that some districts in the state have partnered with APEX Learning to make AP courses available through distance learning.

District of Columbia

No

Florida

Yes. The Florida Virtual School, the country’s first statewide Internet-based public high school, offers AP courses at no cost to Florida residents. AP courses for nonresidents are $800.

In addition, all high schools must provide all 10th graders with access to the PSAT or PLAN (Preliminary ACT). Test results provide each high school with a database that guidance counselors use to identify students who are ready to or who need more preparation to be successful in AP courses.

The Florida Partnership for Minority and Underrepresented Student Achievement is also directed to "provide a plan for communication and coordination of efforts with the Florida Virtual School's provision of online AP or other advanced courses." The partnership must annually report on "the effectiveness of the delivered services and activities ... [in] raising student achievement and increasing the number of AP or other advanced course examinations in low-performing middle and high schools."

Georgia

Yes. The Georgia Virtual School, administered by the Georgia Department of Education, offers AP courses in a variety of subjects. Courses taken as part of a student's regular daily class schedule are free to public, private and home school students. Summer and supplemental courses taken in addition to the regular school day are $300 per semester or $600 per year.

In 2006, the state board made a competitive grant available to districts to support AP teacher training during the summer of 2006 for teachers in schools that offered the least number of AP courses during the 2005-2006 school year.

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income/high minority schools. The NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses, AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors, preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor, and using the PSAT to measure AP potential.

Hawaii

Yes. As of fall 2006, the Hawaii Department of Education's E-School offers AP Computer Science, U.S. History and World History. Courses taken during the regular school day are free; courses taken during the summer are fee-based.

Idaho

Yes. The Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) offers a variety of AP courses. All IDLA fees are paid by the district directly to IDLA. As of the 2006-2007 school year, a one-semester course costs $50 (plus a $25 one-time nonrefundable registration fee) for public school students in buildings and/or districts with a Site
Coordinator who has successfully completed the Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) Site Coordinator Class prior to the course start date. Students in schools and/or districts in which the site coordinator has not completed the IDLA Site Coordinator Class pay $100 per semester per course (plus the one-time $25 registration fee). The cost of each course per semester is $300 for out-of-state, private school and adult learner students. IDLA students must, however, cover their own AP exam fees.

2006 H.B. 847 allocated $1,100,000 to the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. $200,000 was to be used to reduce or eliminate tuition charged students. Any remaining funds from the $200,000 were to be used to provide AP coursework.

In addition, the state board's technology immersion pilot project provides a wireless laptop computer to each student, teacher, and relevant administrator in a participating school and implement the use of software, on-line courses, and other appropriate learning technologies. One of the 5 criteria the board must consider in selecting 7 participating school districts is limited access to AP courses. The 3-year pilot ends August 31, 2007.

2005 legislation on AP teacher training and curricula likewise directs the state board to "focus State and federal funding with the intent to
carry out activities that target school districts serving
high concentrations of low-income students." The February 2006 RFP indicates that grant awards average $100,000, with up to $40,000 allocated to any individual school.

Indiana

Yes. In distributing funds to cover student test fees, teacher training stipends, instructional materials and equipment and other program needs, the department must adopt guidelines to ensure that AP program funds are distributed as evenly as possible throughout the state. In establishing these distribution guidelines, the Department must "consider the following factors:(1) The number of students and teachers participating in the program.
(2) Even geographic representation.(3) Financial need of students participating in the program.
(4) Any other factor affecting the distribution of money" in the state AP program.

Iowa

Yes. A summer AP program is held at the state university of Iowa to provide high school students with intensive coursework. The university is "responsible for the development of appropriate curricula, course offerings, provision of qualified instructors, and the selection of participants for the program. If funds are appropriated for the program, those funds shall be used to pay for the cost of providing instructors, counselors, room and board for students ... attending the program, materials, and for the cost of the development of a summer advanced placement exam." If funds are appropriated for the program, those funds shall be used to pay for the cost of providing instructors, counselors, room and board for students and teachers attending the program, [and] materials...." If funds appropriated are not sufficient to meet program participation demands, first priority must be given to students from schools that do not have AP programs.

The Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) at the University of Iowa offers AP courses. According to the IOAPA Web site, the academy "covers the costs for Apex online Advanced Placement Courses ($450 for tuition and required materials) for students in schools registered with IOAPA."

In 2005, the state was awarded a three-year Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Program activities will provide program supports especially for low-income and minority students.

Kansas

No

Kentucky

Yes. Each high school’s school-based decision making council is mandated to establish a policy on how students are recruited for and assigned to AP courses. The policy must recognize “that all students have the right to be academically challenged and should be encouraged to participate in these courses.” The policy must additionally:"(1) Provide equitable access for participation in advanced placement courses for all students using either or both on-site instruction or electronic instruction, including the Kentucky Virtual High School;(2) Provide for sharing information with all students through the individual graduation plan process … and other means regarding the benefits of taking advanced placement courses and advanced placement examinations including the potential for earning college credit;(3) Establish an equitable process for recruitment of underrepresented students in advanced placement courses including:
(a) Racial minorities;
(b) Students with limited English proficiency;
(c) Students who qualify for free and reduced lunch;
(d) Students with disabilities; and
(e) Males or females...."

The Kentucky Virtual Advanced Placement Academy, housed within the Kentucky Virtual High School, offers students access to a core AP curriculum. The Kentucky Virtual High School charges course fees to recover costs--$150 for a one-semester AP course, or $300 for a two-semester AP course. Statute mandates that districts pay the tuition and other costs of Kentucky Virtual High School courses taken during the regular school day. The department of education offers a scholarship to cover AP courses taken through the Kentucky Virtual High School. Priority in awarding scholarships is given low-income and minority students. The Kentucky Virtual High School likewise provides curriculum for the Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning (BAVEL), the first accredited school in the state to operate only online.

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income/high minority schools. The NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses; AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors; preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor, and using the PSAT to measure AP potential. Activities are being conducted in one urban and one rural district, in three high schools in each district.

Louisiana

Yes. The Louisiana Virtual School offers AP European History, AP Psychology and AP U.S. History, as of August 2007. Courses are free, although schools must provide an onsite facilitator.

Maine

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income/high minority schools. The NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses; AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors; preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor, and using the PSAT in high schools statewide to measure AP potential.

Maryland

Yes. The Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities offers a number of AP courses. Course costs vary by course and by whether Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities or the local district provides a qualified teacher. Districts may offer scholarships or local funding to cover a student's course costs.

In addition, in 2005 the state received a three-year Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. APIP grants are intended to increase the AP opportunities of low-income students.

Massachusetts

No

Michigan

Yes. The Michigan Virtual High School (MVHS) offers a number of AP courses. As of August 2006, each AP course costs $350 a semester. Schools may buy "seats" in MVHS courses, or schools may ask parents to purchase a course for a student.

Minnesota

Yes. In developing AP teacher training program procedures, the commissioner of education must, to the extent possible, ensure that AP courses "become available in all parts of the state and that a variety of course offerings are available in school districts."

The state has a competitive grant program to increase student access to advanced placement. Proposals must seek to achieve one or more of the following goals:(1) Increase the availability of AP courses or programs(2) Expand the breadth of AP courses or programs available(3) Increase the number and diversity of students who succeed in AP courses(4) Increase low-income and other disadvantaged students' access to AP courses and programs(5) Increase the number of students, including low-income and other disadvantaged students, who earn college credit by completing AP courses and earning sufficient scores on related exams.

The department of education likewise makes scholarship funds available for pre-AP teachers to attend training programs.

Furthermore, 2007 H.F. 1063 allocates fiscal year 2008 and 2009 funds to the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide "academically rigorous educational opportunities," including IB and Advanced Placement (AP). Courses may be delivered by a high school or postsecondary instructor or via distance learning.

Mississippi

Yes. The Mississippi Virtual School (MVS), administered by the Mississippi Department of Education, offers a variety of free AP courses. Courses are available to all students in grades 9-12, although priority is given to juniors and seniors.

In addition, districts may offer pre-AP courses in math, science, language arts and social studies to prepare students for AP coursework. Effective wtih the 2007-2008 school year, a district offering pre-AP courses must submit a proposal to the state department of education indicating the pre-AP courses to be offered, the College Board training pre-AP teachers will receive and the process for identifying students for pre-AP courses. Pre-AP teachers must obtain College Board-sponsored training. The pre-AP program proposal will be approved for a five-year period. Subject to appropriation, an exam must be made available to all sophomores in the 2007-2008 school year to measure students' ability to succeed in an AP course. "The examination results should be used to identify students who were not recognized during middle school as students who would benefit from taking AP courses." Legislation directs the Department to seek federal funds through the Advanced Placement Incentive Grant Program for this purpose, and to focus funding efforts to increase AP and pre-AP offerings in "districts targeted as serving a high concentration of low-income students."

Legislation likewise provides that, subject to appropriation, funding must "be made available for the 2007-2008 school year so that all sophomores in Mississippi's public schools may take an examination that measures the students' ability to succeed in an advanced placement course. The State Department of Education shall seek federal funding through the Advanced Placement Incentive Grant Program and other available funding for this purpose. Funding efforts must be focused with an intent to carry out advanced placement and pre-advanced placement activities in school districts targeted as serving a high concentration of low-income students." However, as of February 2007, funding has not been appropriated for this purpose.

Missouri

Yes. The Missouri Virtual School offers AP courses. The school sets per-course semester fees on a sliding scale based on the number of students enrolled in the course. Tuition is paid by the local school district.

Montana

Yes. One of the stated objectives of the Montana Educational Telecommunications Network is to offer AP courses. In addition, the office of public instruction awards Advanced Placement Incentive Program grants for online AP course delivery to high schools and middle schools in districts whose student population is at least 40% free- and reduced-lunch eligible. A high school or middle school may also be eligible for a grant if the student population at the feeder elementary school is at least 40% free/reduced lunch. If no school in a district is eligible, a district may also receive grant funds to cover the costs of online AP courses for individual low-income students.

Nebraska

No

Nevada

Yes. The Clark County School District Virtual High School Program offers a variety of AP courses. Courses are open not only to any student in grades 9-12 enrolled in the Clark County [Las Vegas] School District who meets the course prerequisites, but also to charter and private school students in the Las Vegas area, and Nevada students whose district has signed an agreement with the Clark County School District. Courses are $100 for each half credit, although fee waivers are available.

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) and federal Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income/high minority schools. NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses, AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors, preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor, and using the PSAT to measure AP potential. Nevada also will use the NGA funds to "make an effort to develop culturally diverse curricula to reach students of all backgrounds."

New Hampshire

No

New Jersey

Yes. By September 2005, all Abbott districts were required to create a planning team to address issues of greater academic rigor, personalization, and professional development, as well as implications for budget and facility needs. Each team is to address the essential components of the secondary education program, including "Instruction that engages students to produce both high quality work and increased student satisfaction. School districts shall survey student engagement and learning, and assess teachers' abilities to teach the content of the CCCS," including "[offering] all honors, advanced level courses, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses to all students who satisfy the prerequisites."

New Mexico

Yes. State policy authorizes districts and charter schools to create core curriculum frameworks in grades K-6 to prepare students for pre-AP and AP offerings in grades 7-12. The framework must include: (1) a curriculum that is aligned with state academic content and performance standards that is challenging, specific as to content and sequential from grade to grade, similar to a core curriculum sequence;
(2) in-depth professional development for teachers that includes vertical teaming in content areas; and
(3) content, materials and instructional strategies or methodologies that current research demonstrates are likely to lead to improved student achievement” in pre-AP and AP courses in grades 7-12. A district or charter school may apply for a grant from the public education department to support a core curriculum framework.

Yes. The North Dakota Center for Distance Education offers AP Biology, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Calculus AB, Human Geography and AP U.S. History. As of August 2006, costs vary by course. AP Calculus AB, English Literature and Composition, and Human Geography are offered for free, while AP Biology and English Language and Composition are each $243 for the first semester (less expensive the second semester).

Ohio

No

Oklahoma

Yes. The state board is authorized to award funds for schools to develop AP vertical teams. Statute defines a vertical team as "a group of middle school or junior high school and high school educators in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students acquire the academic skills necessary for success in the advanced placement program[.]" A vertical team must "include at least one representative from each grade level in the content area" grades 7-12.

The state board is also authorized to award schools funds to subsidize training for pre-AP teachers.

Oregon

Yes. The state's Expanded Options Program provides opportunities for students in grades 11 and 12 to earn postsecondary credit through dual credit technical preparation programs, such as two-plus-two programs, advanced placement and International Baccalaureate. All districts must offer the program, but districts are not required to offer all three components of program (AP, IB and dual enrollment). Districts are required to have processes to ensure that all at-risk students (defined as those eligible for free and reduced lunch) and their parents are notified about the Expanded Options Program. In addition, "It shall be a priority for school districts to provide information about the Expanded Options Program to high school students who have dropped out of school." Districts are mandated to "establish a process to identify high school students who have dropped out of school and provide those students with information about the program." The Department must annually report on the program to the House and Senate education committees and Joint Boards of Education. The report must include "[t]he number of students who had dropped out of high school but returned to high school to participate in the Expanded Options Program and earned a diploma." The report must also indicate "[t]he number of students who participated in the Expanded Options Program, categorized by ethnicity and financial status" and participation rates among rural students.

In addition, 2007. H.B. 2263 directs the state department of education to contract to offer an assessment to all 10th graders. The assessment must have the capacity to identify students with "high potential to excel" in AP courses "based on a research-based correlation of scores on the grade 10 assessment" to AP exams.

Yes. "A school district may apply to the agency for the establishment of a technology immersion pilot project for the entire district or for a particular school or group of schools in the district." One of the criteria the Texas Education Agency must use in selecting districts and schools for the pilot is whether the district or school has limited access to AP courses, and if the problem "can be mitigated through the use of wireless mobile computing devices and other technologies...."

A pre-AP teacher may receive a subsidy of up to $450 for teacher training endorsed or sponsored by the College Board.

The Lighthouse Initiative for Texas Classrooms provides online tools to help teachers connect the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Pre-AP and AP curricular objectives, to prepare students for AP-level coursework at the high school level.

Utah

Yes. Districts may use state AP funds "to assist with costs of distance learning programs, equipment or instructors which could increase the AP options in a school. Funds are distributed on the basis of the following: the total funds designated for the Advanced Placement Program are divided by the total number of Advanced Placement exams passed with a grade of 3 or higher by students in the public schools of Utah. This results in a fixed amount of dollars per exam passed. Each participating school district receives that amount for each exam successfully passed by one of its students."

Vermont

No

Virginia

Yes. The Virginia Department of Education's Virtual Advanced Placement School offers a variety of AP courses. Foreign language courses are open to students from the seventh grade and higher. Courses are free to students participating in the Early College Scholars program. Students not enrolled in the Early College Scholars program pay $375 times the Local Composite Index, while private and home school students can participate by paying $375 per student. Out-of-state students can also take courses for a $450 per-student fee.

Washington

A federal Advanced Placement Incentive Program 2005-2008 grant is supporting AP expansion in rural schools in the state.

Yes. State notes that the "[h]onors and advanced placement curriculum may include advanced placement courses offered through the college board or other public or private foundations, corporations, institutions, or businesses whose courses are generally accepted as leading to advanced placement or standing in a postsecondary institution, accelerated instructional courses offered via satellite and other courses and arrangements, approved by the state board, which provide students an opportunity to advance their learning above that offered through the regular curriculum."

The West Virginia Virtual School includes AP courses among its offerings. According to the school's Web site, "Local school districts may pay tuition through instructional budgets. Parents may be requested to pay tuition if the course is offered at the school, and there is no justifiable need to duplicate the course offering. Local and federal funding may also be used." Charges vary according to the course provider, and range from $400-$750 per student per semester.

Wisconsin

Yes. The state's Advanced Coursework Expansion Reimbursement offers funds to partially reimburse districts for the costs of offering IB and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high schools that added new IB or AP courses during the previous school year. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction received funds for the program in 2006-2007 and included $100,000 for the program in its 2007-2009 biennial budget proposal, which is pending legislative approval as of August 2007.

The Wisconsin Advanced Placement Distance Learning Consortium is administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center on Education and Work and collaborators such as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, offering a variety of AP courses. As of August 2006, the price of courses vary. The maximum course cost is $250 per student per semester, paid by the student's school district to the AP teacher's school district.

In addition, the Wisconsin Virtual School (WVS) offers AP courses for $325 per semester per student; cost may be paid by district or parent. According to the WVS Web site, the program offers 95% of all AP subjects available in Wisconsin. WVS likewise offers a free AP exam review to students enrolled in a WVS AP online course. Students not enrolled in a WVS AP course may participate in the AP exam review for $20 per review.

According to the consortium Web site, almost one-fourth of the state's high schools do not offer a single AP course, making these distance learning efforts key in expanding AP access in the state.

The state is also making funds available in FY 2007 to schools "that did not offer on-site, on-line, or distance learning advanced placement courses during the 2005-06 school year OR those that increased the number of advanced placement opportunities offered on-site, on-line, or via distance learning during the 2006-07 academic year."

Funds received from the National Governors Association (NGA) are being used to increase AP offerings and quality in targeted low-income/high minority/rural schools. The NGA strategy includes expanding AP courses; AP professional development for teachers, administrators and counselors; preparing students in the middle grades for AP rigor, and using the PSAT to measure AP potential.

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